It’s that time again! NBC is having their NBC Late Night Writers Reachout Program in New York City.

This is where they seek submissions from writers who are “almost ready,” so they can groom them to be staff writers on the Late Night Shows at NBC.

If you’ve been paying attention to Late Night, you’ll know that there is a lot of movement at NBC with Jay Leno leaving ‘The Tonight Show’ and Jimmy Fallon now talking the helm. Also Seth Meyers taking Fallon’s spot at ‘Late Night.’

Meyers is leaving SNL’s ‘Weekend Update,’ and evidently taking some of the writers with him to the new show, there are spots opening up for writers all over the NBC Late Night Landscape!

This is a perfect opportunity for the new writer to get established. There is no other opportunity like this right now in Late Night Television.

Four Hour Late Night Writers Intensive

To help facilitate this and help writers prepare. Jerry Corley’s Comedy Clinic is holding a Late Night TV Writing & Submission Workshop this week, January 15th, from 11am to 3pm.

In this workshop you will learn:

How to write monologue jokes quickly for Late Night Television.

How to write desk pieces

How to write sketches

What elements are necessary for sketches to work

How to come up with ideas quickly to create sketches from scratch

What makes a great sketch:

AND How to properly format a submission package so that it will be read.

Don’t miss this one!

I know, I know: what the Hell? Big Sky Comedy Competition? Why bother?

I’ll give you 3 reasons:

ICM

CBS

IMPROVs

These are just a few of the talent coordinators and agents that were present at last years festival/competition. I expect just as good a turn out or better at this year’s competition with scheduled additional attendance of talent coordinators from the Funny Bones Comedy Clubs and FOX.

This festival is put on by Wayne Wilcox and his team of talent coordinators and producers. From what I’ve heard they are doing a great job building this festival.

As you may know, I’m a big fan of getting involved in any comedy competition or festival. It’s not just about the competition. Although winning would be great, it’s not everything. Meeting and mingling and developing relationships with other comics and bookers is the primary goal of any competition.

One of the best pieces of advice I received about auditions and try-outs is from an old musician friend of mine. He’s a professional studio drummer and makes a good living touring with top headlining bands.

He said, “Audition for everything. Because even if you don’t get the gig, you meet those same people again and if you’ve been working hard, when they see you again, they see the improvement. Anyone would want to work with the artist who is constantly working hard to get better.”

And he’s right. As you know this can be a small world. You bump into a lot of the same people. Every opportunity leads to another opportunity.

Please be sure that your video is ONLY 5 minutes. I think it’s best not to have an edited video, but times have changed and lots of these festivals don’t care. They just want to see what you can bring to the festival.

24 Comedians will be selected for the competition. Here’s the great part, according to the promo on the website, your food and hotel are paid for! What?! That’s right. If you make it into this festival, your food and hotel are paid for!

So submit your videos now and Good luck! Remember the deadline is September 15th!

Could This Be Your Big Break?

If you’ve ever dreamed of writing jokes and sketches for Late Night, here’s a fabulous opportunity to get yourself to be considered.

NBCUniversal is offering a workshop for writers to get involved. They posted the recent opportunity on their website.

The NBCUniversal Late Night Writers Workshop is a two-day program focused on exposing talented sketch and comedy writers to NBCUniversal’s late night line-up and readying them for a staff writer position. We are looking for writers who are “almost there” but need that final bit of preparation and exposure to key industry players. We particularly encourage female writers and those of diverse backgrounds to apply.

The two-day, NYC-based workshop will consist of improv classes as well as keynote speakers. The selected writers will create new sketch material and gain insight into the dynamics of a late night writers’ room as well as learn about NBCUniversal’s late night line-up. Participants are given the chance to interact with key writers and producers from across NBCUniversal’s late night shows as well as receive feedback on their material. Writing assignments on an NBCUniversal late night television show may be available after successful completion of the program but are not a guarantee.

Late Night Joke Writing & Submission Workshop

If you are so inclined, I may be putting together a last minute Late Night Joke Writing & Submission Workshop to prepare you for this opportunity. I will cover:

How to write jokes quickly for Late Night

How to write jokes in the style of Late Night.

What they look for in Late Night Joke Submissions

How to separate yourself from the pack

How to properly format a sketch package

What the earning potential is for a staff writer

How to write volumes of jokes on one topic

3 Easy steps to create compelling sketch concepts

:and much more

This will be a 4-hour workshop WEDNESDAY July 31st, 11am-3pm for ONLY $99.

If you are interested in this workshop, please contact me at jc@jerrycorley.com and indicate “Writing & Submission Workshop” in the subject line. If enough people are interested on such short notice, then I will put on the workshop at my studio.

I will also be recording this workshop and I will make it available for purchase for anyone out of town. You will have access to all the handouts and sample sheets used at the workshop.